Source: PSA
A rally will take place at Parliament tomorrow to hand over an open letter urging the Government to stop the closure of specialist sexual violence prevention organisation RespectEd Aotearoa. (ref. https://www.together.org.nz/fundsexualviolenceprevention )
The letter, signed by 21 organisations and over 600 individuals, asks the Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Hon Karen Chhour provide urgent funding to save RespectEd Aotearoa. It faces closure in August because funding through ACC’s Hikitia programme was halted.
Minister Chhour has been invited to formally receive the letter at the rally, but she has not responded. The PSA hope to hand over the letter directly to Minister Chhour at the event, but if she does not attend, it will be handed to a representative from an opposition party.
“New Zealand has a problem with sexual violence,” says Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Prevention works. Without this important work, we’re going to see more people harmed, and that is on this government’s shoulders,
“Once these organisations are lost, they can’t just start back up overnight. They’ve built trust, relationships, and knowledge that are not easily replaced,
“This letter calls for sexual violence prevention to be properly funded so that organisations like RespectEd aren’t forced to close.”
Speakers will highlight the severe, long-term impacts of pulling resources away from prevention work, especially since New Zealand already has some of the worst rates of sexual violence in the developed world.
Rally information:
- Date: 1 July 2026
- Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm
- Location: Parliament lawn
Speakers include Fleur Fitzsimons, a representative from RespectEd, a representative from Thursdays in Black Victoria University, Minister Chhour has been invited, as well as opposition parties.
Open letter signatories:
- Atamira Platform
- Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children
- Counselling Services Centre – Ngā Whakahaymarutanga o te Hauora
- Eastern Refuge Society
- Good Shepherd NZ
- Hui E! Community Aotearoa
- National Council of Women – Wellington Branch
- New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi
- New Zealand Disability Support Network
- PSA Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
- Tāhono Trust
- Te Wāhi Wāhine o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland Women’s Centre
- The Backbone Collective
- Thursdays In Black (VUW)
- Victoria University of Wellington Feminist Law Society
- Wellington Rape Crisis
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Aotearoa Section
- Women’s Refuge | Ngā Whare Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa
- Women’s Refuge Tāmaki Makaurau
- YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau
- Dr Merrill Simmons Hansen, MANZASW, Reg SW. PhD, ISSC Therapy, IFS Informed, Supervision
- Dr Debbie Hagar, Disability portfolio, Tauiwi Caucus, Te Ohaakii a Hine – National Network of Ending Sexual Violence Together
Previous statements:
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.